Knights blank Kodiak

PALMER- The Colony Knights stayed undefeated beating the Kodiak Bears 37-0 at Pride Field at Colony High School on Saturday. Behind two touchdowns from senior Logan Conway and a defense that has not allowed a score in two straight games, the Colony Knights were able to get ahead early and beat a tough Kodiak team in the nonconference contest.

Conway started the scoring by prancing untouched into the end zone in the first quarter on the Knights first drive of the game. The Knights had maintained favorable field position after Kodiak punter Jay-Ar Small’s punt only traveled 10 yards, and Colony capitalized.

Kodiak’s defense was able to keep Colony off of the scoreboard following their second offensive possession. Colony came into the game averaging more than 37 points a game, and the Knights didn’t need to take a snap under center to be able to score. Tucker Looney cut the ball across the field and raced 88 yards to the end zone to put the Knights up by two touchdowns early in the second quarter.

“He’s really stepped up this year. I knew he was a good athlete, but he’s having a phenomenal senior year,” Colony head coach Brian McIntosh said of his senior receiver.

Looney would add another score later in the third quarter, when he and Steven Bilafer connected on a 20-yard touchdown through the air. Looney has reeled in a receiving touchdown in each of Colony’s four victories.

“It definitely gives me more confidence, knowing that I can put the ball up anywhere on the field and he can go get it,” Bilafer said of Looney.

Late in the first half, the home crowd at Colony High School witnessed a record-setting performance. Senior Harrison Menard booted a ball through the uprights from 42 yards away, which sets a new school record.

To close out the first half, Kodiak nearly cut into Colony’s lead. Behind the trio of Isagani Galindez, Jay-Ar Small and Melvin Javier, Kodiak marched the ball across midfield and all the way to the 3-yard line. Helped by a penalty against the Knights, Kodiak was poised to try their rough and tumble running luck up the middle of the field.

“I was pretty nervous,” said Bilafer of the Kodiak scoring threat.

Derailed by a penalty, the Bears would get no closer than that to the end zone for the duration of the game, as the Knights were able to complete the goal-line stand when the buzzer sounded ending the first half of football.

“It was a gut check,” McIntosh said.

Colony’s defense spent much of the game pursuing Kodiak’s misdirected backfield. Javier was able to break off four runs of more than 15 yards, but did not have any success in the air. The only pass he completed was to Colony’s Justin Callahan, who intercepted the ball in the first half.

Kodiak head coach Jim Shnick let 6-foot-5, 320-pound lineman Kordell Pillians kick the ball off to start the second half. Pillians answered the call, sending it into the end zone for a touchback.

Colony Senior Sarah Brumbaugh recorded a tackle late in the fourth quarter. Brumbaugh is better known for her expertise on the hardwood for the Lady Knights, but brought down Melvin Javier when she was the only Colony defender between Javier and the end zone.

The Knights hope to remain undefeated as they play Lathrop next week.

“It has playoff implications and we’re treating it as a playoff game,” said McIntosh.

Colony 37, Kodiak 0

Saturday, Colony

First Quarter:

Colony – Conway 3 run (Menard kick) 6:46.

Second Quarter:

Colony – Looney 88 punt return (Menard Kick) 10:56.

Colony – Menard 42 field goal

Third Quarter:

Colony – Conway 9 run (Menard kick) 10:58

Colony – Looney 20 pass from Bilafer (kick failed)

Colony – Bilafer 20 run (Menard kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Colony: Conway 14-115, Bilafer 4-75, Nash 6-52, Nero 4-9; Kodiak: Galindez 14-47, Small 16-62, Javier 14-114

PASSING – Colony: Bilafer 3-4 39 2-0; Kodiak: Javier 0-3 0 0-1.

RECEIVING – Colony: Callahan 1-5, Ruffing 1-14, Looney 1-20; Kodiak: None.